How is mankind going to overcome the lack of oil in the future? Is solar power the best answer to replace oil?

Question

Is anyone optimistic about fusion power?

Answer 1

I am not optimistic about people's attitude.

I think it's sad that the Chernobyl incident permanently damaged the reputation of nuclear energy. Like any other technology, it is neither good nor bad, but it can be used for either. Chernobyl occured because the night shift workers were suffering from sleep deprivation. The real issue is why they were sleep deprived, not nuclear energy.

Answer 2

Solar is the holy grail of energy sources.  We need much better technology to convert the energy to a useable form and store it before it will become commercially viable.  Contemporary solar cells barely replenish the energy it takes to manufacture them before the end of their useful lifespan.

Nuclear power is going to get us from fossil fuels to solar.  Fusion may never be viable due to the massive amounts of energy required to control a fusion reaction; but fission reactors are cost-effective, safe, and modern designs produce little to no radioactive waste materials.  Radioactive materials are free energy that already exists within the earth's crust, but they require enrichment to do any useful work.  With a strong nuclear infrastructure, developed countries could easily begin producing hydrogen for fuel-cell powered vehicles and machines.

The oil we use now is nothing more than thousands of years worth of stored solar energy (we think), originally harnessed by biological machines (plants) and converted to petroleum by time and pressure.  If humans can ever develop a simple and efficient technology that mimics photosynthetic processes, we will have acheived an essentially free source of energy for the duration of our solar system (and beyond, if it comes to that).

Answer 3

Crises brings solutions, as innovations and alternatives. History of evolution of species tells just this.

Alternative energy resources are at the breakthrough stage and certainly solar power is one option besides hydrogen cell. Efficient flowsheets in near future would impact our energy consumption in near future too.

thnks

Answer 4

Solar power is used to produce electricity. Very little electrical energy is produced through the burning of oil. Oil is used primarily to power cars.

Electric cars with rechargeable batteries might be the best option. The power to charge these batteries might come from a variety of sources. We currently have the ability to make electricity with nuclear power plants which can produce electricity reliably, safely and without the production of any greenhouse gases. Unfortunately, this technology has been undermined by objections which are ignorant, emotive and shrill.

Answer 5

Certainly by the time oil becomes scarce, probably a few hundred years, we will have developed alternatives such as fusion.  I suspect we will develop alternatives far sooner than that if the price of oil continues to remain so high.